Crimped fibrous glass



1946- s. M. DOCKERTY CRIMPED FIBROUS GLASS Original Filed Sept. 12, 1939 jwuc m toz; 15 'MJockeTQy Patented Feb. 19, 1946 CRIMPED FIBROUS GLASS Stuart M. Dockerty, Pawtucket, R. I.', assignor to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application September 12, 1939, Serial No. 294,487. Divided and this application December 4, 1942, Serial No. 468,171

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fibrous product, and in particular to novel crimped glass fibers and tangled or felted mats of crimped fibrous glass.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 294,487, filed September 12, 1939, now Patent No. 2,313,630, dated March 9, 1943.

Undulated, wavy or crimped glass fibers of the type previously produced have been difficult to permanently entangle or felt for the reason that the undulations of the individual fibers were not of a character that permittedthem to interlock with the undulations of adjacent strands or fibers and remain locked thereto permanently. Undulations heretofore produced generally were of the character of a sine curve and could generally be pulled from one another so that the product had neither the cohesion nor the mass integrity in any direction desired for some applications.

It is the object of the present invention to provide crimped glass fibers provided with actual loops as distinguished from mere undulations. The loops close about one another when the fibers are collected in a mass and retain their form permanently so that the loops cannot readily be separated. This results in a product in which the fibers are definitely interlocked with one another and an exceptionally good degree of cohesion is attained.

Other objects not at this time enumerated will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood.

In the accompanying 4 drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view, partially diagrammatic in its representation, of an exemplifying apparatus for producing the fibrous glass of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken trans versely of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a forming apparatus by means of which the crimped glass fibers are formed into a mat.

Briefly, the present invention contemplates the attenuation of fibrous glass streams by suitable means such as the coaction of a revolving or otherwise moving means and a gaseous jet adapted to direct the streams under the influence of such means to attenuate the same so as to crimp the streams into Wavy fibrous form of sinuous configuration. While the glass fiber is sulficiently hot to be plastic it is projected into a rela tively quiescent atmosphere whereupon the preformed undulations in the fibers are transformed into partially closed loops which are capable of encircling one another to produce a mass of glass wool in which a relatively high percentage of interlocking between loops is effected.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the reference character l0 designates a glass; feeding apparatus which may be of the type shown in the United States Patent No. 2,165,318. Thefeeder l0 includes a series of orifices II from which streams I2 of glass issue continuously. The ,temperature of the streams 12 as they emerge from the feeder may, if desired, be regulated by means of blowers I3 positioned beneath the orifices H in a manner similar to that disclosed in the Slayter and Thomas Patent No. 2,234,986. The blowers l3 may or may not be used according to the type of stream desired.

Spaced below the feeder l0 and positioned substantially tangential to the streams l2 issuing from the former is an irregular cylindrical surface or crimping drum I4 which is preferably of squirrel cage" design and consists of a series of parallel crimping bars l5 arranged in cylindrical fashion and having their ends anchored in end I plates l6 mounted on a central shaft I1. A spoolshaped spacing member'l8 surrounds the shaft ll and has its ends secured to the end plates l6. Any suitable means may be utilized for rotating the crimping drum l4, and as shown in Figure 1, an electric motor M is adaptable for this purpose.

The streams or fibers l2 of glass issuing from the orifices H are directed tangentially against the crimping drum l4 by means of continuous lateral blasts of air issuing from a blower I!) through one or a plurality of superimposed series of jets 20 spaced apart a distance which will cause the blasts issuing therefrom to be directed simultaneously toward two or more adjacent interstices to crimp the streams or fibers l2 therein or at least to cause the streams to bear against the drum'in such a manner that the'frictional engagement between the drum and fibers will be sunicient to cause a definite gripping of the fibers to attenuate the streams issuing from the orifices H.

The blowers l3 may be regulated to permit the fibers l2 to arrive at the crimping drum in a relatively hot state. the crimping drum i4 is rotating at relatively high speed, the relatively hot fibers l2 are crimped and thrown out tangentially of the drumby centrifugal force as indicated at 2|. Inasmuch as the blasts are directed simultaneously into adjacent interstices in the drum l4, successive crimps formed by a single jet do not neutralize each other by taking up the slack of one another.

In this instance, because The crliunori fibers shown at iii are generally of sinuous wavy (inauguration inasmuch as this is the form imparted to them while they are operated upon by the. blasts of air which force them against the moving orimpii'nr bars Hi. It,

however, the fibers as they leave the bars [5' have suiilclcntly low viscosity due to heat, a fur ther crimping action may take place. Because of the high rate of surface speed of the drum M, the fibers as they are thrown tangentially therefrom move longitudinally of themselves at terrific speeds in the neighborhood of from 4,000

to 50,000 feet per minute although other speeds may be employed. At these high speeds when about one another to a certain extent to form a partially felted body of wool that has tenacity or coherence in all directions.

,The crimped fibers 2i may be passed through an opening 23 provided in a table 24 upon which for convenience the motor M may be mounted.

The crimpedfibrous glass may be collected as it is formed upon a continuously moving surface or conveyor 25 (Figure 3). Interfelting of the crimped fibers may be further enhanced by means of rollers 26 which operate upon the fibrous material to cause these socalled closed loops to penetrate one another and hook onto one another to produce a matted product that possesses exceptional tenacity in all directions and which, in order to be separated, must actually be pulled or torn apart. The rolls 26 may be driven in such a manner as to facilitate passage of the matted product therebeneath and also, if desired, they may be reciprocated longitudinally in order that the material may be thoroughly Worked to proher of foltlllti procedures are shown in the ellnytcr Patent No. 2,206.050, tinted July .3, 10M).

The invention is not to be limited to produc tion by the exact appi'n'ntus shown in the draw ing or described in this s 'iocilleution as various other means may be employed to form the plastic glass streams into wavy configuration and pro-- ject the iibers thus formed into relatively uni escent atmosphere to cause the undulations to increase in magnitude in accordance with the present invention. Moreover, the illustration of the fibers, especially as they arebeing crimped is diagrammatic since it is almost impossible to depict these fibers as they more at such great speeds. It should be noted, however, that the crimps are irregular and not'uniiorni, winch a decided advantage in obtaining good felting characteristics.

Modifications and variations may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims I claim:

1, A product of manufacture comprising a mat of fibrous glass having the fibers thereof haphazardly arranged and provided throughout their lengths withcontiguous alternate inverse and reverse undulations, said undulations being irregular and nonuniform with a substantial number of the undulations being in theform of loops exceeding a sefni-circle in magnitude, the undulations being all of substantially the same size, the undulations of adjacent fibers in the mat being interlocked to provide substantial tensile strength of the'mat in all directions.

'2. As aproduct of manufacturefa body of matted haphazardly arranged glass'fibers, each of said fibers being provided throughout its length with contiguous alternate inverse and reverse undulations, said undulations being irregular and nonuniform but being all of substantially the same size, a substantial number of said un dulations being in the form of loops exceeding a semi-circle in magnitude.

STUART M. DOCKE RTY. 

